Share Your Favorite Holiday Traditions, Memories With Patch

WHEATON, IL --- When I was growing up, Christmas was always lit with twinkles of creativity and imagination that my parents (who are on a first-name basis with Santa Claus) made into annual traditions that kept my sister and I eagerly awaiting for signs of Old St. Nick. On Christmas Eve, we'd find festively wrapped pajamas stuck in the ducts of our unlit fireplace, no doubt dropped down the chimney by elves. In the morning, the tile in front of our fireplace would be covered in ashes, causing my father to curse Santa Claus for being so messy.

These are the types holiday traditions I try to carry on for my niece, as each family has their own holiday tradition and each is as special and memorable as the next.

This Christmas, as your Patch editor, I'd like to hear your most beloved winter holiday tradition or memory for a story that reflects on the traditions that shape us and bring us together this season. Patch will compile some of the standout stories into a feature that will be published just before Christmas.

To share your holiday tradition story with Patch:

1. Write a short summary of the tradition or memory that we can publish in an article (less than 250 words).

2. Email your story to lisa.farver@patch.com by Dec. 23 at 10 a.m.

3. Include photos and photo credit if you'd like

4. Watch for a Patch email alert on Dec. 24 or 25 to celebrate these stories and see if yours made it into the article.

Here's hoping you have a magical holiday season and maybe even make some new traditions of your own. Disclaimer: I don't actually recommend letting Santa get ashes all over your family room floor.

Image via Shutterstock